Armed gang robs bus on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf highway; shoots bKash employee, 'loots Tk57 lakh'
The assailants allegedly looted Tk57 lakh from three bKash agency employees after forcing the bus to stop with nail-studded tree trunks.
Armed robbers stopped a passenger bus on the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf highway in broad daylight today (2 August), shot a bKash agency employee and allegedly robbed Tk57 lakh in cash from three employees before fleeing into nearby hills.
The robbery took place at around 1:45pm near Bridge No. 14 in the Damdumia area of Teknaf, north of the Teknaf land port, confirmed Teknaf Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Saiful Islam
The injured were identified as Md Arman, 24, who sustained a gunshot wound, and Sakib, 21, and Ekram, 22, who were assaulted during the robbery. All three are residents of Teknaf municipality and employees of a local bKash agency.
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They were admitted to Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital for treatment.
According to the bus driver, the injured employees and passengers, the robbers blocked the road by placing nail-studded tree trunks on the highway, forcing a Palki Paribahan bus to stop.
The armed men then boarded the bus, assaulted the three bKash employees, snatched the cash they were carrying and fled towards the nearby hills while firing several rounds, witnesses said.
The three employees were travelling to deliver cash to bKash agents in Hnila and Whykong unions after withdrawing money from a bank in Teknaf.
The victims claimed the robbers made off with Tk57 lakh, although police said the exact amount is yet to be verified.
Speaking from hospital, injured employee Md Arman questioned how the attackers knew they were transporting cash and urged investigators to examine whether anyone, including the bus driver, had colluded with the gang.
He alleged that the bus did not move from the spot even after the attackers opened fire.
"The exact amount of money looted has not yet been confirmed," OC Saiful Islam said.
He said police rushed to the scene immediately after receiving the report and seized the bus.
Personnel from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the Bangladesh Coast Guard and police have been deployed in the area, and a joint operation is underway to identify and arrest those involved, he added.
